'Scotland fans can fret - but they need to keep perspective too'

'Scotland fans can fret - but they need to keep perspective too' By Tom English BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Published 14 minutes ago In a strange and angry pocket of the Tartan Army, there is a section of Scotland supporters who have taken to booing the head coach and the team. They were audible on Saturday after the loss by Japan at Hampden and audible again on Tuesday after a second 1-0 defeat of the international window, against Ivory Coast in Liverpool. This crew - smallish in number but sufficiently large to assault the eardrums of the management and players - are an odd bunch. It's true that Scotland should be beyond the point of just being happy going to the World Cup - and these players are way past that notion. It's also true that there is an expectation on Scotland now to be competitive in every game they play. And they pretty much are. Against Ivory Coast they were very competitive. They lost, they put in a flawed performance, but there was intent in what they did. It wasn't enough, but it doesn't have to be enough now, it needs to be enough when the big show happens. Ivory Coast inflict Scotland's second consecutive friendly defeat How did Scotland defeat look from Clarke's vantage point? Published 59 minutes ago Are Scotland really going to name 55 players in World Cup squad? Published 8 hours ago That's the big show that Denmark will not be attending after their exit on penalties in their play-off with the Czech Republic. A party that Italy will also miss out on following their loss, also on penalties, against Bosnia-Herzegovina. This cluster of malcontents appear to have an entitlement, possibly a load of bevvy, and certainly an animosity towards Steve Clarke running through their veins. Reacting to a narrow defeat for a much-changed team as if a sacred contract written in the manager's blood had been broken was wild. Buying a ticket and travelling to Liverpool is not a binding agreement that Scotland will entertain, score and win. This was ano...